Landmark Supreme Court Ruling in Favour of Confidentiality Between Client and Solicitor

04 February 2013

Landmark Supreme Court Ruling in Favour of Confidentiality Between Client and Solicitor

In a landmark decision the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has ruled that Legal Professional Privilege (LPP) applies only to qualified lawyers.

Welcoming the ruling the President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Mr Michael Robinson said:

“Legal Professional Privilege protects discussions and conversations between a solicitor and his or her clients from being disclosed without the permission of the client. Privilege refers to confidentiality.

It protects the individual's human right to access justice by encouraging open discussion between the client and their solicitor”.

Lord Neuberger, Supreme Court Judge said that:

‘Privilege [from discussions] should not be extended to communications in connection with advice given by professional people other than lawyers…. even where that advice is legal advice which the professional person is qualified to give’.

Commenting further the President of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, Mr Michael Robinson said:

“The ruling of the Supreme Court is simple. If you want advice on legal, business or personal matters and you want to ensure that under the rule of law your conversations remain confidential and protected then you should speak to a solicitor of your choice.

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